International exchange students and their reasons to choose Finland : a study on how Finland is articulated through international mobility and its educational system
Jelaiel, Adelia (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024091225081
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024091225081
Tiivistelmä
This thesis aimed to explore the factors pushing international students' decision to choose Finland as their study destination. Many factors were found such as academic, economic, socio-cultural and personal factors. It mostly focused on how Finland’s reputation, international mobility initiatives and educational system play a huge role in influencing students' choices. Using several theories of destination choice, globalization of higher education, as well as Finland’s educational system, articulation strategies and student mobility as a framework, the study went through the reasons highlighting these decisions.
With the use of the quantitative survey research method, data was collected from international exchange students who enrolled or are currently enrolling in courses in Finland. The results demonstrate that Finland’s safety, friendly country and high-quality education system were the main factors influencing students' decision to study there. Moreover, a certain lifestyle and the social experience in general tend to attract international students to Finland. Overseas students are attracted to Finland by its innovative teaching methods, academic possibilities with several major fields as well as the two types of universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS).
By examining these variables, the thesis put lights on Finland’s achievement in internationalizing its higher education system and proposed a more comprehensive understanding of why the country is becoming a major study destination.
With the use of the quantitative survey research method, data was collected from international exchange students who enrolled or are currently enrolling in courses in Finland. The results demonstrate that Finland’s safety, friendly country and high-quality education system were the main factors influencing students' decision to study there. Moreover, a certain lifestyle and the social experience in general tend to attract international students to Finland. Overseas students are attracted to Finland by its innovative teaching methods, academic possibilities with several major fields as well as the two types of universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS).
By examining these variables, the thesis put lights on Finland’s achievement in internationalizing its higher education system and proposed a more comprehensive understanding of why the country is becoming a major study destination.